IDIC (Star Trek: TOS zine 1)

Zine
Title:	IDIC
Publisher:	Sasashar Press
Editor(s):	Leslye Lilker
Date(s):	1975-1978
Series?:
Medium:	print zine
Size:
Genre:
Fandom:	Star Trek: TOS
Language:	English
External Links:
	Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
	Contents 1 From the Editor: 1978; 2 From the Editor: 1980; 3 General Reviews and Reactions; 4 Issue 1; 5 Issue 2; 6 Issue 3 6.1 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3; ; 7 Issue 4 7.1 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4; ; 8 Issue 5 8.1 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5; ; 9 Issue 6 (6/7/8) 9.1 Reactions and Reviews: Issue 6/7/8; ; 10 References;

IDIC is a gen Star Trek: TOS zine. It is best known for containing Leslye Lilker's Sahaj series.

There are six issues.

From the Editor: 1978

Warped Space #31/32 contains a personal statement by Lilker addressing the topic of her publication of several zines, as well as the unauthorized use by another fan of a word that Lilker had created:

Lilker's 1978 personal statement

IDIC #6 is in preparation now and should be ready for T'Con (end of March 1978), however publication may be held for artwork. To the artists and writers who have contributed to this issue: thank you for your patience and understanding, and please accept my apologies for the delay in publishing your material. After IDIC #6, I plan to hibernate for an indefinite period of time. No, I am not leaving fandom. I am just giving myself some breathing and writing room. It is next to impossible to produce a quality 'zine and write at the same time. Although plans are not definite yet, I will probably come out of hiding with SAHAJ COLLECTED II, and hopefully one or two or three Trek novels that have been buzzing around my poor little over worked brain for the last two years. To you Sahaj fans, I promise to finish the series (Bloodoath). During this interim period, please do not send submissions to IDIC nor ask me to write for your 'zine.
I would also like to answer a question that has been cropping up frequently in my mail since the publication of THE SENSUOUS VULCAN. In this 'zine appears a story entitled "The Way of a Warrior" by Karen Lewis. The author has used "Valjn'd'jt", the name of Sarek's home in the Sahaj universe, despite a request not to. I am not Karen Lewis (a pseudonym). I did read the story before publication, and, for my answer to "The Way of a Warrior", please read "Nivar to a Desert Rose", to appear in THE OTHER SIDE [#3]. Send s.a.s.e. to Amy Falkowitz [address redacted] for information.

From the Editor: 1980

I published my first issue of 'IDIC', sure that I would never sell at least half of the 60 copies, I, with great temerity, had dared to print. Fortunately, it was not so. The run sold out at the first con I attended. With with two weeks I had received approximately 25 LoCs... With their encouragement to continue, I dared to try another story, and a second issue, whole simultaneously reprinting the first. Again came the phenomenon of LoCs, all of which were encouraging; one of the best was two typed pages in length and criticized me (rightly so!) for scene breakdowns, poorly structured plot, absence of descriptions, and ineffective dialogue. (The the character I created, Sahaj, was acceptable. Everyone else stunk.) I had never received a critique of that depth before from anyone, and this was a BNF, a writer whose work I admired, a person who actually had her name on a professionally published book! (No, Jackie, I'm not going to mention you by name.). ^[1]

General Reviews and Reactions

The writers for IDIC thus far [1-3] have been Leslye Lilker, Linda Silverman and Trinette Kern. Douglas Drexler illoed both front covers; his artwork is by far the best. IDIC focuses most strongly on Spock, and on Spock's relationship with his on, Sahaj. 'Get That Lollipop Out of My Computer!' is a good, humorous story, probably the best story in the second issue. Spock's son stories are not my favorite idea of good reading ... Reviewers consistently gave IDIC an average rating of 6-7 (fair to fair-good), with the highest marks going for the readability and binding of the 'zine. IDIC has the potential to develop into a better. 'zine than it is. Currently it is an average-type TREK 'zine, perhaps a little higher-priced than is warranted, but I don't regret buying my copies. I do intend to get the third ... ^[2]

IDIC highlights the development of Sahaj, natural son of Spock and the Vulcan ambassador to Ventura, T'Marr. The zine features a wide-range of writers and artists, many of them among the most well-known in fandom. Crisp copy, excellent art reproduction, and attractive cover designs add to the zine 's initial impact. ^[3]

Lilker's character, Sahaj, is a very enjoyable character. Not a bad 'zine, a little one-sided, though [due to] its restrictions in subject content. ^[4]

Issue 1

front cover of v.1 n.1, Douglas Drexler

back cover of v.1 n.1, Douglas Drexler?

IDIC 1 was published in September 1975 (first reprint: May 1976: 100 copies) and contains 52 pages. It is digest-sized.

The editor-in-chief was Leslye Lilker, Linda Silverman was the editor "at time of publication."

It contains the first Sahaj story.

This zine has a front cover by Douglas Drexler and and interior illustration by Leslye Lilker (LES).

"This issue is dedicated to James Blish, for without his Star Trek - 1 none of this madness would have happened. It Is also dedicated to Leonard Nimoy, who has very warm hands."

The Auction by Linda Silverman and Leslye Lilker ("Kirk, McCoy, Sulu and Chekov are captured and sold into slavery by the Vulcan-like inhabitants of the planet H'Tuos. Spock leads the rescue team just in time to save McCoy's life.") (3)
Where's the What? by Leslye Lilker (27)
The Ambassador's Son by Linda Silverman and Leslye Lilker (The first in the Sahaj series. McCoy is very close to Sahaj in these stories of Spock and his son.) (28)

from issue #1, Leslye Lilker
from issue #1, Leslye Lilker
from issue #1, Leslye Lilker

Issue 2

front cover of v.1 n.2, Douglas Drexler

back cover of v.1 n.2, artist is Kern, "Sahaj at 14"

IDIC 2 was published in February 1976 (reprinted August 1976) and contains 99 pages.

It is digest-sized.

The front cover is by Doug Drexler, the back cover by Trinette Kern. The interior art is by Kern and Drexler.

Get That Lollipop Out of My Computer ("Also known as Where No Child Has Gone Before") by Leslye Lilker and Linda Silverman ("The entire crew, except for Spock and Chapel, are deaged. Guess who has to babysit?") (reprinted in Archives #3) (2)
What Price Perfection by Linda Silverman (37)

The Bonding by Leslye Lilker (55)
Eagle Man/Chanting Woman, poem by Trinette Kern (78)
The Stowaway by Leslye Lilker and Linda Silverman (98)
You Don't Mess Around With Jim, filk to the tune by Jim Croce, by Trinette Kern (98)

from issue #2, Douglas Drexler
from issue #2, Douglas Drexler
from issue #2, Trinette Kern
from issue #2, Trinette Kern
from issue #2, the filk
from issue #2, Trinette Kern

Issue 3

front cover of issue #3, Trinette Kern

back cover of issue #3, Leslye Lilker

IDIC 3 was published in July 1976 and contains 85 pages.

This issue of IDIC is when the zine switched to a full-sized format, rather than digest-sized.

It has two Sahaj stories, one illustrated by Gee Moaven.

The other art is by Trinette Kern, Leslye Lilker, and W. Neckameur.

From the zine:

My personal thanks to Ms. Trinette Kern, for the poetry, artwork and inspiration for the "Twilight and Evening Bells" series. All "steals" from this author have been approved. (All others are purely subconscious.)

Editor's Notes
Twilight and Evening Bells, poem by Trinette Kern (1)
Twilight and Evening Bells, fiction by Leslye Lilker (From Lilker: "takes up where 'The Bonding' left off... starts a new, and hopefully more in-depth, look at the relationships stemming from Sahaj's unexpected arrival.") (3)
Patient Child, poem by Trinette Kern (39)
Only Once a Year by Nancy Kippax (40)
Triad, poem by B. Schaffer (46)
Stones by Trinette Kern ("patterned on "Stones" by Neil Diamond") (47)
Confrontation by C.R. Faddis (This story takes an AU side trip from D.T. Steiner's novel Spock Enslaved.) (48)
T'Pring, poem by T. Kern (57)
Friends, filk to the tune of "Captain Sunshine" by Neil Diamond, by T. Kern (58)
Starship Officer, filk to the tune of "Piano Picker" by The Carpenters, by T. Kern (59)
Halfbreed, poem by P.J. Greenberg (60)
McCoy's Lament, poem by John R. Calen (61)
The Son, poem by T. Kern (62)
Wanting, poem by Trinette Kern (62)
Haiku for Sahaj, poem by T. Kern (62)

And Watch Till Daylight Comes, fiction by Leslye Lilker (63)
Reflections and Recall, poem by T. Kern (85)

from issue #3, one of three illos by Gee Moaven, reprinted in Probe #9 only a month later, then in Sol Plus #4 in 1977
from issue #3, W. Neckameur
from issue #3, Leslye Lilker
from issue #3, Leslye Lilker
from issue #3, poems
from issue #3, filk

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

See reactions and reviews for Confrontation.

Issue 4

flyer for issue #4 from Warped Space #24

front cover of issue #4, by Signe Landon

IDIC 4 was published in November 1976 and contains 64 pages. Art by Signe Landon, Doug Drexler, Kathy Carlson, Gee Moaven, and Alice Jones.

Editor's Page (2)
In Answer Let the Record Show by Trinette Kern (3) (A landing party is formed to evacuate Federation citizens from a planet in rebellion. McCoy is not required nor is he intending to go with the landing party until a premonition of disaster compels him to accompany his Captain.) (3)
My Private Little War by P.J. Greenberg (10)
Song Parodies by Mary Frey (11)
A Child of the Bosom by Wade Smith (12)
I Feel a Smile Coming On, filk by Mary Frey (16)
Tribute & Starship Weekly by Brenda Shaffer (17)
Once Bitten by Alice Thompson (18)
Found on the Library Computer & In Answer by Linda Grech (34)
All Our Yesterdays & The Empath & This Side of Paradise & The JLAPG42831DB Bridge Crew Song by David Lubkin (35)
A Fantasy of Alienation by Lynn Holland (37) (set in the same universe as Kirk's Challenge, this is a story with Jai and Sahaj)
Unspoken Truth by P.J. Greenberg (also in Off the Beaten Trek #2) (39)
Sahaj by P.J. Greenberg (40)
The Kid by S. Kirwan, K. Carlson, R. Provost, D. Stahl, D. Lubkin (41)
It's Boring! by Trinette L. Kern (43) (song, reprinted in Starsong)
The Lesson by Leslye Lilker (44)
Child of IDIC by T.L. Kern (64)

from issue #4, Alice Jones for "In Answer Let the Record Show"
from e issue #4, Alice Jones for "In Answer Let the Record Show"
from issue #4, Signe Landon for "The Kid"
from issue #4, Kathy Carlson illos for filks
from issue #4, Doug Drexler for "A Child of the Bosom"
from issue #4, Signe Landon for "Once Bitten"
from issue #4, Signe Landon for "Once Bitten"
from issue #4, Kathy Carlson
from issue #4, Gee Moaven
from issue #4, Doug Drexler for "A Child of the Bosom"
from issue #4, Signe Landon for "The Lesson"
from issue #4, "I Feel a Smile Coming On," filk by Mary Frey, illo by Kathy Carlson

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 4

This issue is a mixed bag. While the cover and interior artwork give this zine an attractive and readable appearance that is is superior to previous issues, the contents are uneven in quality. The best piece of fiction is Alice Thompson's 'Once Bitten,' about the hallucinogenic side-effects of an insect's venom. There is a good science fiction element to the story, and while the structure may be too loose, the plot incidents managed to capture and hold my interest. The individual hallucinations are hair-raising, especially Chapel's, which is refreshingly original. Unfortunately, Kirk's and McCoy's dreams are cliches, which have been given better treatment elsewhere. Still the story is a cut above much fan-fiction. The latest installment of the Sahaj saga, 'The Lesson,' finally hits at a satisfactory outcome for Spock's son. The writing is competent, though the pacing is slow in places. In this story, Sahaj discovers the existence -- and personal importance to himself -- of a unique 'parental bond' in Vulcans, which Spock is forced to temporarily withdraw in order to discipline the intractable Sahaj. Hopefully, this will be the beginning of the end of Sahaj's of wheeling, neurotic methods of coping with the realities of his life on Vulcan, as he starts to grow, both psychologically and socially. It would fascinating, indeed, if Ms. Lilker were to explore the little-understood phenomenon or process we call 'growing up,' especially though an emotion Vulcan child on emotionless Vulcan. A very short piece by Lynn Holland teams Shahaj and Jai (Kirk's son in Eileen Roy's 'Kirk's Challenge') in a pleasant and insightful vignette. It's only flaw is its brevity. Trinette Kern's 'In Answer Let the Record Show,' could have been titled 'I Am Not ~~Spock~~ Christ.' Again, the writing is good, but the plot-line falters. Told from McCoy's point of view, it is a get-em story about Kirk's violent death and Spock's resurrection of him through the power of love. Pure horseshit. I could have overlooked that a Federation colony was established on a world already inhabited by a viable culture; I could have even have overlooked that McCoy spent his time sobbing over just-slain Kirk, when he should have been beaming the Captain up to the ship to be placed in total life support preparatory to emergency surgery. What I couldn't swallow, try as I might, was that Spock, purely through emotional energy, infused function ito organs that were clinically dead -- that is, too damaged to support life. Ms. Kern has written some excellent stories; this one should have staying in the file drawer. In addition, Wade Smith has a short story called 'Child of the Bosom,' which puts a new light on those ethnocentric bullslingers, Scott and Chekov. It's fun. Artwork this issue is generally excellent, and greatly enhanced by good offset printing. Ms. Lilker scored quite a coup by enticing the remarkably gifted Alice Jones out our her fannish closet. Alice's pencil work is probably the most finished art in fandom. Signe Landon's illustrations for 'Once Bitten' and 'The Lesson' are some of her best work -- both original and effective. It was a relief to see a non-cute version of Sahaj, too. Finally, the poetry ran the gamut from mediocre to delightful -- with Ms. Kern's 'It's Boring' the very best. The poem ISN'T boring, and either is the zine. If you have the spare case, you'll probably find something suited to your tastes in IDIC 4. ^[5]

Issue 5

front cover of issue #5, Alice Jones

back cover of issue #5, Gee Moaven

inside back cover by P.S. Nim

IDIC 5 was published in May 1977 (reprinted again as a sort of a standalone in 1983 with 200 pages) and has 220 pages. It is subtitled, "The Forging." The front cover and extensive interior art is by Alice Jones, the back by Gee Moaven. This zine is a sister zine to Sahaj Collected.

Lilker won the Best Writer Fan Q with this volume.

In the editorial, author says she has "two more novels to write, including the infamous 'Thy Beloved Wilderness,'" a zine which was never published. It is possible it was a sequel to He Who is Close to Nature.

Also from the edtiorial:

For the unknown fan who leafed through a copy of IDIC at the Baltimore mini-con and then made the mistake of asking the group gathered around the table, 'What's a Sahaj?,' here is an ever-so-brief summary of the events covered in IDICs 1-4: Sahaj, ten-year old natural son of Spock and the Vulcan ambassadress to Ventura, is sent back to Vulcan when his mother dies. He shows up aboard the Big E. Instant clash between father and son, for not only is Spock repulsed by kids in general , but, as Sahaj is going out of his way to be obnoxious, this particular kid really turns him off. Add to that: 1) Sahaj and McCoy hit it off, 2) Sarek's reaction to his grandson 3) Sahaj's reaction to Sarek 4) I'Chiya 5) Sahaj's reaction to Vulcan in general 6) A message tape from Jim Kirk announcing Spock's death 7) Sahaj holding Jim Kirk responsible 8) Spock's return 9) Sahaj's abrupt learning of a parental bond, 10) Spock's decision to take Sahaj camping on The Forge -- mix well, and add two dashes of plomeek logic, bake at a slow temperature for two years, and you've caught up with the rest of IDIC's readers. Now, if you're thoroughly confused, all I can tell you is to either borrow copies from friends, or be patient and wait for the Sahaj Collected that I'm planning on doing.

Contents:

The Forging (Sahaj novel) by Leslye Lilker
Reunion, Rebel Style by Leslye Lilker
art by Alice Jones, P.S. Nim, and Gee Moaven
poetry by Trinette Kern

from issue #5
from issue #5
from issue #5
from issue #5
i from issue #5
from issue #5
from issue #5
from issue #5

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 5

The entire zine is devoted to stories dealing with Sahaj, Spock's son. When first I heard this, I though, 'Oh wow, another dumb series.' You must admit, ST fandom is full of them. But nothing could be further from the truth! Take the main story, 'The Bells at Morning' which typifies all of them -- and is my personal favorite. It is the story of Sahaj and Spock's first desert trek which is designed to prepare Sahaj for the day when he would have to do it alone. As the story develops, so does the bond between Spock and his son and all is going along smoothly until Kirk joins them and Sahaj can't accept the fact that he must share his father with someone else. The characters and the plot are excellently handled. I'm really enthusiastic about this whole series. It's vibrant, living, and puts some of the life back into fandom. Highly recommended! ^[6]

The ST fanzine readership's taste is becoming ever more sophisticated as our writers strive to become better and better. This is making it harder for new writers to break into print in our field, a mixed blessing. Leslye has received a lot of hissing, boos, and jeers for her very clumsy, very juvenile first Sahaj stories, and I'm sure many, many people lost whatever regard they had for my tastes when I promoted the early IDICs so vigorously. So it is important that all of you obtain and read 'The Forging' and ponder just exactly what the difference is between Leslye's style then and now. It is misfortunate that she is rewriting those early attempts. If you haven't read the original IDIC, try to get it. If you are just beginning to write -- or just beginning to edit -- a fanzine, you can learn a lot from this study. The early IDICs, the first Sahaj stories, are a pure example of a towering talent in the raw. 'The Forging' is the culmination of a line of maturation for that raw talent. The Sahaj series will soon be available collected, (and I hope that the unrewritten versions can be made available on request to students) is the most striking example fandom has yet produced of the transformation of the gangling amateur into a threshold professional writer. Leslye has my undying gratitude for having proved my confidence in her justified. 'The Forging' is the best ST novel I've read this year. ^[7]

Although you may or may not have encountered 'IDIC' and Leslye's lovable, beautiful creation of the kid, Sahaj, I heartily recommend 'IDIC' 5' The zine is called this time, The Forging, and it is the forging of many things, including the relationship between Spock and his son Sahaj, the beginning of true grown in what they have and can have. The zine is beautifully illuminated by Alice Jones... Sahaj is a beautiful creation, and Spock, and all the other characters, are handled beautifully. There is much here: joy, sadness, pain, love, and growing. Sahaj goes out into the desert -- onto Vulcan's Forge with Spock, he learns many things. This is the testing, the preparation for his eventual Kahs-wan, but it is many other things as well. 'IDIC' 5 is worth the price. This is a serious novel, but there is still much humor in it. Leslye has really learned to write; her story feels real. Printing quality is excellent. (small but readable type -- there is a LOT in the 200-odd pages of this zine), and the price [$5] might sound high until you realize that there are over TWENTY Alice Jones illos -- and all her illos have to be screened, because she works in pencil, and screening is EXPENSIVE, but for her work, it is worth it! Actually, if I had to sum up the zine -- it is the forging of love -- the realization of it -- between Spock and Sahaj. On a scale of one to ten, 'IDIC' 5 is defiantly a 10. ^[8]

The bulk of this beast is by Leslye Lilker. In THE FORGING, Sahaj is shown in interrelationships between his father Spock, his grandparents Sarek and Amanda, his "Uncle" Jim and "Uncle" McCoy, with other children, and in reaction to the cultural ways of life on Earth and on Vulcan. Suffice it to say that Sahaj remains delightfully in character throughout all his adventures, and that Spock, Kirk, and McCoy learn something about their relationships to each other and to the boy. Lilker may not be giving Kirk and McCoy enough credit when she has them exposing Sahaj to customs Spock would (and does) disapprove of, but their actions are necessary to provide the conflict so essential in the telling of her tale. But this issue of IDIC. It's worth every penny.^[9]

Issue 6 (6/7/8)

front cover of issue #6, Monica Miller

back cover of issue #6 by Gayle F

IDIC 6 was published in December 1978 and contains 172 pages. It is subtitled, "What If...?" The inside front cover says "Triple Issue // IDIC #6, (7 and 8)". The cover only lists it as "IDIC 6".

It has a front cover by Monica Miller and a back cover of a Mirror Universe Spock by Gayle F. Art by Claire Bell, Gordon Carleton, Celia Cosentini, Merle Decker, Gerry Downes, Connie Faddis (reprinted from Interphase), Gayle F, Leslie Fish, Linda Grech, Dale Holman, Alice Jones, Marian Kelly, Signe Landon, Monica Miller, Gee Moaven, P.S. Nim, Juanita Salicrup, and Pat Stall.

In 1980, the editor wrote:

IDIC 6,7,8 (triple issue) was nominated for a Fan-Q award as Favorite Fanzine for 1979, but for all the reader response it drew from the 500 sales, I suspect that my mother must have stuffed the ballot box. ^[10]

Excerpt from the editorial, regarding the artwork:

Please, 'zine editors, treat your artists with kindness! Take a good look at those pieces of artwork you're so nonchalantly letting your puppy piddle on, or letting your kids handle with peanut-buttered fingers. Think of the hours and hours of painstaking work that went into the illo that you're so busy Crazy-gluing to a piece of cardboard. The artist is not a second-class citizen. He/she deserves the same consideration as a contributing author. You wouldn't consider changing someone's story without permission, would you? So why do you add borders without asking the artist if he or she minds? Why do you cut, bend, fold and otherwise mutilate artwork? Adding even one line, or darkening shading can destroy the overall result that an artist intended. Our artists are extremely cooperative, and more often than not, will gladly allow you to make minor changes, or do them themselves. If not, you, the editor, should simply use the piece the way it was originally rendered, or return it to its creator with a polite, "Thank you, but....".
Full page artwork does not have to be numbered, or otherwise written upon (the 'writing upon' business goes for any size artwork). For your printer's ease, simply write the page number on a piece of paper and masking-tape it to the back of the artwork, or use a drop of rubber cement for adherence. These pieces of art are loaned to us for printing purposes only. We do not have the right to change one thing about them...unless we have obtained the artist's permission to do so. In many instances, the artwork will be sold at a later date. I wouldn't buy a piece of artwork that some careless editor has written upon, or who has erased a hole into a portrait that tookweeks to complete...would you? When you have received a contribution of artwork for your 'zine you have been entrusted with a good piece of the artist's soul. It's a valuable commodity, and cannot be replaced if destroyed. Perhaps, if more 'zine eds were to adopt some of this philosophy, fewer artists would be leaving fandom.
'Zine eds beware. There are some unscrupulous people out there who are tracing previously published artwork from other 'zines and submitting them either anonymously or under their own names. This is a revolting practice, and it is up to us to put an immediate stop to it.

From the editorial, regarding the time and energy into editing a zine:

Originally, this issue was slated to be the 'What if...?' volume, containing only stories based on expositions from aired Trek, and it was intended for publication a year ago. However, instead of receiving the thematic material I had planned, an abundance of general Trek stories, well worthy of publication, were submitted. I accepted those contributions, unaware that #6 would be the last IDIC I would be publishing.
In addition, my personal life took several drastic changes, I was busy writing and publishing both The Forging and Sahaj Collected, and the 'What if...?' stories still had not appeared in sufficient quantity for a separate issue. I had a decision to make: produce what I considered an inferior product, or wait to publish the best possible 'zine I could. I chose to wait, and while I apologize for the delay, I feel I made the correct choice. To the authors, poets and artists who have waited so patiently for as long as two years, I extend my humblest thanks. During that two year period, in which this issue was gestating, I received an abundance of mail querying the production date of IDIC #6, and it gradually dawned on me that many of IDIC's readers did not really understand what went into the production of a 'zine. So, out will come the soapbox, and I will explain.
Editing a 'zine is not merely grabbing something someone has written, typing it, printing 'X' number of copies and selling it. The stories submitted for publication may require extensive editing to bring them to their fullest potential. What am I talking about, timewise? It varies. It could be a few days, or, as the case with some of the stories in this issue (including my own) it could take months. There are letters, phone calls,and personal interviews to be conducted before the story is ready for publication. More time. Time that is taken from a full time job and/or family. And, most importantly, time that is taken from your own writing.
Now, while you, the editor, are eating your supper, using your left hand to manipulate your fork because you've got a blue pencil in your right hand, and the phone tucked under your chin while you're discussing a story with an author, you're also considering artwork. You want illustrations, portfolios, individual pieces, and fillers. You contact various artists, working around their schedules (artists are people, too!), once again deciding to postpone the publication of the issue because you'd rather have something of quality than of quickness...
You've got your stories, and poetry, your artwork is either in, or in the last stages of development. Now you have the monumental task of typing, (or, as in the case of this issue,typing onto computer tape) the entire 'zine. This is a time consuming process. By the way, it took 140 hours for me to input IDIC #6. Know anything about buying computer time? If not, take my word for it that I fell into a good deal. At regular rate, this 'zine would not have been published at all.
Now comes proofing and layout. It took me five seconds to type that, and several months to do it, even with help. The printing process itself takes four to six weeks.
And, while you're doing all of this, you're processing orders from previous publications, keeping books, answering mail, taking those telephone calls that invariably inundate you just when you've settled into a project, or are trying to catch a much needed nap. Don't misunderstand me; I'm not griping. I knew perfectly well, from publishing seven previous issues, just what producing IDIC #6 would mean. When it's finished, I'll love having done it -- it's the doing it that I hate. I just want those of you who are not in anyway, shape or form involved in the production of a fanzine to understand why 'zines are invariably late, or your letters don't get an immediate reply.
Perhaps now you can understand why IDIC will no longer be published. I have enjoyed the learning process of editing a 'zine tremendously, but my greatest love is writing. Producing IDIC infringes on my limited writing time. And now that I've announced that I'm no longer doing a 'zine, let me do an about face and tell you that I will be doing several more Sahaj Collecteds, and the series will someday (maybe when I'm 93 years old) be concluded. I will also, on occasion, produce novels that I feel are worthy of publication. If you'd like to keep a SASE on file with me for future issues, fine. When the particular item is completed, I'll send you a flyer, or place announcements in other 'zines. From now on, there will be no advance announcements of any publications of Sasashar Press. ^[11]

From the zines afterword:

In Closing: The light at the end of the tunnel stretches before me in a teasing, tantalizing path to (dare I use the word?) freedom. The bulk of the work of putting this 'zine together is behind me now, and only a few day's worth of work remains. It feels as though someone has finally removed his foot from my chest, and once again, my lungs are remembering how to breathe.
IDIC will be three years old by the time these words see print, and in those three years I've learned a hell of a lot about writing, editing and producing a fanzine...(take a look at IDIC#1 if you want a good laugh). I still haven't mastered proofreading. My apologies for those typos I've missed... but what can you expect from a person who can't spell?
And now that it's over (or, almost so), I can think back and laugh over the trials and tribulations associated with this project. The lost sleep, the eyestrain, the phone bills...were all worth it, for out of the heartache came a new beginning, and new friends.
To every contributor, LoCer, supporter or criticizer of this 'zine, my personal thanks.
(And special thanks to Juanita, Jean, Lanni, Regina and Lucy for pitching in when I was about to denude my head of hair!)
Isn't there some way active fandom can arrange invitations to the preview of the movie? (This commercial break was brought to you by one, slightly insane, mentally deficient, editor.) Only a few more steps to go....